Thailand’s monsoon season has once again unleashed its fury, with heavy rains and overflowing rivers causing major flooding across 12 provinces in the northern, central, and eastern regions on September 16, 2025.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported that the deluge affected approximately 161,000 people, leading to three tragic drownings and widespread disruptions to daily life, agriculture, and infrastructure.
The flooding primarily stemmed from the overflow of major rivers, including the Nan, Yom, and Pasak, triggered by relentless rainfall over the preceding days. According to the DDPM’s morning update on September 16th, the hardest-hit areas spanned from the northern provinces of Phitsanulok and Phetchabun to the central plains and eastern lowlands. The affected provinces include:
– **Northern Region**: Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, and Phichit, where flash floods inundated communities and agricultural fields.
– **Central Plains**: Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, and Nakhon Pathom, known for their flat terrain that amplifies flood risks.
– **Eastern Region**: Chachoengsao, where waters rose in Muang and Bang Nam Prieo districts.
In total, the floods impacted thousands of households, with water levels reaching waist-deep in some low-lying areas like Muang district in Nakhon Sawan. Rescue operations were swift, with teams evacuating vulnerable residents, including the elderly and children, to temporary shelters. However, the human cost was stark: three people sadly lost their lives in separate incidents. A 17-year-old girl was swept away by floodwaters while riding her motorcycle in the Sam Ngam district of Phichit; a 19-year-old man drowned after falling from his boat in Phetchabun; and another unidentified man perished while attempting to salvage belongings from beneath his elevated home in Ayutthaya.
By late September 16th, flood levels were receding in most central provinces, offering some relief, but waters continued to rise in Ayutthaya, bringing heightened alerts. The DDPM deployed heavy machinery for drainage efforts and distributed relief supplies, including food, water, and medical aid, to over 1,000 affected villages. Transportation disruptions were widespread, with roads submerged and some bridges at risk of collapse, stranding commuters and halting local commerce.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s new administration, still stabilizing after recent political shifts, activated emergency protocols on September 16th. The DDPM coordinated with provincial governors to monitor river levels and issue evacuation warnings, while the Ministry of Agriculture assessed crop losses, estimated in the millions of baht for rice paddies in the central plains.
Looking ahead, the Thai Meteorological Department forecasts continued heavy rains through mid-October, potentially worsening conditions in vulnerable areas.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
